Taproot Theatre Company Looks Back At Successes, Trails Of The Season

As Taproot Theatre Company celebrates the successful opening of  Brooklyn Boy in its Greenwood playhouse, it looks back at a year of successes, trials and records in 2009. From its work on the Mainstage and Acting Studio to the shows it took on the road to schools across the Pacific Northwest, the year marked a memorable time in Taproot Theatre's history, and one packed with thanksgiving. Though the year drew near to a close with an arson next door that caused extensive damage to the theatre, Taproot exhibitEd Grace in difficulty and moved forward without missing a beat. Here are some of the highlights of 2009.

The year opened with the regional premiere of Gee's Bend, Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder's moving account of the women of Gee's Bend, Alabama, who have persevered and sought life's blessings despite segregation. Through a special partnership with the Tacoma Art Museum and Greg Kucera Gallery, Taproot was able to welcome three quilters from Gee's Bend to its theatre for special events after two performances. The season continued with Tuesdays with Morrie, the regional premieres of Around the World in 80 Days by Mark Brown and Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming, and Enchanted April.

The fire on October 23-The Day Before Enchanted April was to close-forced Taproot to move closing day performances to Seattle Children's Theatre, and to find a new home for its holiday production. Unable to find an alternate location that could accommodate the world premiere of John Longenbaugh's Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol, Taproot brought back the best selling holiday production in its history, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, and presented the show at the Stage One Theatre at North Seattle Community College. Patrons had an opportunity to get a preview of Longenbaugh's play and help out the businesses affected by last summer and fall's arsons by attending two readings of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol, which benefitted the Greenwood Fire Relief Fund.In all, Taproot Theatre served over 29,726 ticketholders in 2009 through its Mainstage performances, over 2,300 of which subscribed to three or more shows, and 2,400 who were 25 years old or younger. It offered discounted tickets to over 600 senior citizens and 1,100 students through its Senior and Student Matinee programs, and made theatre available to 1,087 people through its pay-what-you-can performances.

In addition to the Mainstage, Taproot Theatre's Road Company traveled to schools across Western Washington, the Yakima Valley, and the Spokane and Couer d'Alene areas, teaching students how to respond to-and even prevent-bullying. With plays guided by some of the leading curricula on the topic, from Committee for Children, Taproot's Road Company taught kids and teens about bullying through plays that captivated their attentions and imaginations and helped the lessons stick.

In August the five actors traveled to New York to perform Camp Super Friend at the New York International Fringe Festival (FringeJR). Talkin' Broadway praised the play, saying, "its ability to impart crucial life lessons in a buoyant, creative, enjoyable way is one talent that lots of bigger and stronger children's shows simply don't possess."

Guided by the belief that actors should be taught in an environment that allows them to be creatively challenged but also allowed to explore their imaginations and skills in a safe and nurturing environment, Taproot Theatre's Acting Studio reached new records in 2009. From its quarter-long classes to camps during school breaks, the Acting Studio offered more opportunities for actors of every age and experience level, and even offered the new Improv(e) Your Business Skills, a class aimed at helping people with their interview and presentation skills using techniques used in improv.
The Acting Studio served 1,081 people in 2009, and broke its summer camp enrollment record with 34 classes and 251 students, some of whom received part of $3,000 in scholarships to make attendance financially possible. In 2009 the Acting Studio doubled its classroom space thanks to a partnership with Ballard Church to rent some of their facilities, and continued several residencies at middle and high schools, offering free or reduced-cost arts education at their after school programs. We also continued our residency with Fairfax Psychiatric Hospital in Kirkland, offering weekly classes for the children and teens treated there.

Overall, Taproot Theatre posted a modest surplus in 2009, and is currently working with its accountants to properly record the losses and insurance settlements for the October fire. Some new faces joined the Taproot Theatre team in 2009. Four new leaders-Zach Brittle (development director), Rick Rodenbeck (director of finance and operations), Nikki Visel (marketing director) and Nathan Jeffrey (director of outreach)-bring a wealth of energy and skills to help build Taproot Theatre Company.

Taproot Theatre is looking forward to the rest of 2010, with the highest number of subscribers in its history. It opened the season with the regional premiere of C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce, adapted by George Drance and New York's Magis Theatre. Coming up after the regional premiere of Brooklyn Boy are Charley's Aunt, Man of La Mancha and the regional premiere of Wedding Belles.
Plans for the annual Gala fundraiser are underway. The event will take place on Saturday, April 10, at the Triple Door in Downtown Seattle. The costs of this event have been generously underwritten by the sponsors of the evening, including business sponsor Ronald Blue & Co., LLC, and a number of individual sponsors.

Taproot Theatre would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who reached out with a helping hand, a word of encouragement, donations, and every other form of support in the weeks and months following the fire. Those individuals, businesses and organizations helped in ways they may not even have realized, helping Taproot Theatre rebound not just in a physical way, but also aiding in the staff's perseverance in the toughest of times. Thanks to the Seattle Fire Department for their tremendous work in saving the building. Thanks to Belfor Property Restoration and Liberty Mutual Insurance for their commitment to getting the theatre back up and running in time for us to open our 2010 season, even though it didn't seem possible. Thanks to the entire Seattle theatre and arts community for your help during that time.
 
ABOUT TAPROOT THEATRE COMPANY
Taproot Theatre Company is a professional, non-profit theatre company with a multi-faceted production program. Founded in 1976, Taproot Theatre serves the Pacific Northwest with Mainstage Productions, Touring Productions and Acting Studio. Taproot exists to create theatre that explores the beauty and questions of life while bringing hope to our search for meaning. Taproot Theatre Company is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), Theatre Puget Sound (TPS), and the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce. 

Support for Taproot Theatre's 2009 season was generously provided by The Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, ArtsFund, 4Culture, Washington State Arts Commission, Fred Meyer Fund, PONCHO, Nesholm Family Foundation, the D.V and Ida J. McEachern Charitable Trust, and The BWF Foundation.

For more information, visit taproottheatre.org.

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